"Holy Water, Sacred Flame

Brigid, we invoke your name

Bless my hands, my head, my heart,

Source of healing, song and art."

--words by Diane Baker

Imbolc is special to me because it is Brigid's feast: and since my first encounter with Brigid--I can't even recall when it was now--I have been captivated by this triple goddess. As I am a healer, artist/craftswoman, writer, she seems a natural ally for me. (I'm not a painter however, and the above picture isn't mine. I borrowed it from Lunaea Weatherstone's website, http://www.lunaea.com/goddess/creativity/bridshrine.html.)

It is snowing here on this Imbolc morn, rare for Oregon in early February. Hardly seems fitting for a day that rejoices the first flicker of spring, but there you have it. Just a few days ago I noticed the start of a volunteer onion popping up at the edge of the herb bed, and yesterday an inch of green daffodil stem poked up by the Oregano. Now the snow is falling fairly steadily, but it isn't terrifically cold, so I imagine the wee green things will be all right. This winter has been colder than usual for us, freezing nights and days for over a month now, and there's a fire burning all day and most of the night. We have, in the past, always been able to be pretty haphazard with our fire maintenance, but not this year. It's COLD, and I'm reminded of why I don't miss my home town in Northern Michigan. So today I am particularly aware of what Imbolc stands for--that midpoint between the start of winter and the start of spring, the beginning of spring's birth. Watching the snow I remind myself that even as it's cold and damp above, down in the earth the plants are beginning to stretch their roots and prepare to wake and grow once more.

The last half of December and all of January were serious rooting times for me. Having left the job I hated for so many years, I found myself withdrawing and drifting. I worked hard on my knitted goddesses and other creative pursuits, I chatted with people on line, but I did very little stirring from home, and as little thinking as possible. It was as if my spirit just curled up in a little ball and went to sleep. And Friday morning I woke up and realized that I have been asleep for over a month, and a desire to wake up and re-engage with my life, my healing practice, my spiritual journey, and my land began to stir.

Last night at Sanctuary Circle (my monthly gathering with women of many different spiritual paths), I re-committed myself to my healing path, specifically to really getting to work on the Green Witch correspondence course that I technically started at the end of last summer. I'm going easy on myself and committing to 15 minutes a day, but I know some days I will spend more, and this morning I spent a good hour getting reacquainted with my course materials, and starting some of the reading on my book list.

I don't feel at all bad about the month of drifting--I have never in my entire life had such a luxury, and it was very healing. I felt battered, drained, and exhausted, and after my hybernation I feel ready to follow my path wherever it takes me. I feel like amazing things are in store for the coming year, and like I am up to the tasks that are mine to accomplish.

It looks even more like winter than usual out my window, but my inner knowing has felt that first surge of sap stirring, and spring is not far away.

Blessed Imbolc to all of you, and I hope you feel spring stirring in your spirit.

One of my covenspace friends posted a pic of her altar and talked about what was on it and why, and I thought, how cool! I want to do that! I love seeing people's altars.

So here's the picture:

It's a thumbnail, you can click for big.

So some explanation for those of you who are interested:

The central figure is a Brigid doll I made from wheat, raffia, ribbon, hemp twine, and wooden beads that are painted green with little flowers. I made her because I just can't find a statue of Brigid that seems right to me, even though I've looked and looked. The picture hanging above is a painting of Mary Magdalene (who I've blogged about before), and to the right of Brigid is a small resin sculpture of Kwan Yin. The red box holds matches and such, it's got a beautiful design on the top and I just love it. The huge chunk of amethyst points is actually a candle holder, there's a tea light in it. Both of my tarot decks are in pouches, kind of in the background, and the stones that I work with most are spread all over--big selenite sphere, small rutilated smoky quartz sphere, some pieces of labradorite, obsidian, black tourmaline, rose quartz, fluorite, staurolite/Fairy Cross, and a pair of mochi marbles. The feathers aren't coming out of Brigid's head, they're in an old bottle on the shelf behind her. It's hard to see, but on Brigid's left there's the most amazing azeztulite necklace that I received as a solstice gift from my friend and reiki master. The three candles are further triple goddess symbolism, also fire for Brigid who has been important to me for a long time. My personal altar is very related to nature and healing work, all the stones are ones I use in conjunction with reiki as well as for meditation.

This altar changes occasionally, although the stones are usually present. I love caring for and rearranging sacred places occasionally for the way it boosts and smooths the energy in a room.

I want to see everyone's altar, so if you post a picture and description let me know, I'll come see!

It was a delightful, beautiful Solstice, and I'm so glad it's over!

My ever thoughtful hubster bought me a great desk chair, with wheels and arms and a really great back. He listened all year when I was whining about the discomfort of a folding chair at the computer. He also bought me a fabulous shiatsu massaging pillow thingy that gets that knot in my shoulder. Yessssss precious ... i can even use it in my wonderful new chair while I'm at the computer.

I quit my day job, and I'm looking for a part time job. In the meantime I'm enjoying some time to do more of the things I love, like working on goddesses, writing, seeing friends, and sleeping. Today I had a bunch of kids in my house. I made chocolate chip cookies so now I'm a local hero. Used wonderful Ghiradelli bittersweet chocolate chips too. Mmmmmmm . . . it's good.

I hope you all had an awesome solstice! In future posts, how I'm a crazy lady who talks to her house, and more! 

Just a quickie to wish all a joyous yule.

My family is going to my reiki teacher's house for a feast, and tomorrow morning we'll open gifts.

I hope you all have a holiday weekend filled with joy, good friends, good food, and comfort.

Phew, what a couple of months I've been having! I can't believe i haven't posted since October, that's completely absurd. Probably no one is reading anymore ...

Well. I've been having a busy life, but not as busy as Steph who still somehow manages to post regularly.

Been doing lots of meditation and reiki self treatments, plus giving reiki to others. 

And I've been knitting this:

It's an entry for a contest, which you can read about here:

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5345681

And you can see all the entries here:

http://www.etsy.com/favorite_listings_public.php?user_id=5345681

But of course I want you to "vote" for mine. 

I've been spending WAY too much time on Etsy, chatting with people in the forums and working on my shop. It's going pretty well.

AND I just quit my full time job and I'm looking for a part time job.

Too much excitement for little ole me.

Gotta go check some more e-mail and wrap solstice presents for the spawn! I will try to be a better blogger in the coming months, but I make no promises!